Many of the positive cases of late, such as the 103 cases the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. reported last Dec. 2, were individuals who have already been in quarantine at a government site because they have already been identified as high-risk \u201cpersons of interest.\u201d <\/p>\n
This was emphasized by Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive Esther L. Mu\u00f1a during a radio appearance last Friday, where she also spoke of the importance of testing individuals within a certain time to get the most accurate testing results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe numbers that you’re seeing from the last couple of days…those are individuals who are already in quarantine. They have been identified as a person of interest\u2014these are individuals that are considered high-risk. …At this point right now, we’re finding individuals in quarantine. These are individuals that are staying in the hotel and waiting for their results,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
This explains why quarantining and isolating at a designated site is necessary as it prevents further spread even as high-risk \u201cpersons of interest\u201d are waiting for their test results, she said.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a said that testing individuals for COVID-19 within a certain time frame is also crucial to ensure that CHCC receives and reports the most accurate test results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tests have to be done at a specific time in order to determine whether or not they have the virus. Doing it earlier can generate a false negative. Making sure that we have [testing] done in a specific time, and when it’s done [and] determined that this individual is positive, that’s more people protected from this virus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a acknowledged that isolating at a site may be inconvenient, but it is necessary to prevent further spread and protect the community, especially the many in the CNMI who are unvaccinated. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like this is necessary to protect others, especially considering that we still have a large number of individuals that are unvaccinated. I understand it’s inconvenient, but it does save lives; it does [curb] further transmission out in the community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a appeared on the radio during Gov. Ralph DLG Torres\u2019 weekly news briefing. Governor\u2019s COVID-19 Task Force chair Warren F. Villagomez also appeared Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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